Complete our NEW FREE Consultation Readiness Assessment
for Roslyn's Healthy Weight & Lifestyle Counseling Program

Receive Roslyn's FREE Healthy Hints Newsletter

Purchase The A List book

Listen to How to Thrive after 35 radio show and podcast

Meet Roslyn   -   The A List book   -   Speaking   - Counseling   -   Testimonials  -   Events
Media Room   -   Radio Show   -   FREE Articles    -   FREE Recipes   -   Links   -  Contact Us   -   Home

Article: Minimize stress and Maximize joy this holiday season
By: Roslyn Franken

It’s November and the holiday season buzz is already starting.  Office parties are nearing, decorations will soon go up, and the flurry of holiday advertising on radio, television, newspapers and in flyers, malls and shops will soon be upon us.  It is a magical time of year with all its festive tradition, however, with all the hustle and bustle it is also a season when many people find themselves overwhelmed, overstressed and overtired.  

On top of your regular daily responsibilities, you must now start thinking about gift buying, planning family gatherings, deciding on holiday dinner menus and getting your holiday baking done.  This all takes time and energy, which for most of us are two very precious commodities nowadays. 

If not managed properly, you could create the type of stress and anxiety that could easily lead to comfort eating and associated weight gain and depressive mindset.  With all the extra socializing, holiday treats and alcohol readily available, it can be even more difficult to eat properly especially if you’re overstressed and overtired. Let’s look at some key ways to minimize your stress levels for a healthy holiday season.  

1.       GET ORGANIZED – Avoid leaving everything to the last minute.  By steadily procrastinating what you want to get done you will likely find yourself scrambling once again trying to find that perfect gift for your loved one, running around trying to put together the perfect meal and being overly-frustrated when things don’t happen the way you want them to.  Instead, get yourself organized starting today by writing out a list of all that needs to be done.  Then prioritize the list starting with what is most important and immediate and set yourself a reasonable schedule so that you do a little bit every week instead of letting it all pile up.  Set small daily and weekly goals of what you want to get done and be happy with what you accomplish. 

2.       REACH OUT FOR HELP – There is often this sense of martyrdom amongst women especially who run themselves ragged with all the holiday responsibilities.  I hear it all the time, “Did you get your Christmas baking done?”  “Did you get all your Christmas shopping done?”  It’s a tradition it seems to ask these questions as a way to relate to one another.  It’s as though we want to hear that the other person is as behind schedule as we are.  The question is WHY do we feel that we have to do it all on our own?  Why not create the To-Do list and schedule as a family and assign roles and responsibilities? Get the whole family involved. 

3.       LET GO OF YOUR NEED FOR PERFECTION – If you’re always seeking perfection then it may be difficult for you to rely on others.  Learn to trust others to do their jobs and if they don’t do it exactly as you would, let it go. Learn to be flexible and adaptable and relieve yourself of the burden of trying to be so darn perfect all the time.  If your health and well-being is going to suffer for it, then it just isn’t worth it.

The biggest gift you can give yourself this holiday season is the gift of kindness.  Be kind to your body and yourself and follow these tips to minimize stress and maximize joy for your holiday season.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER, E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

You may use this article, but only if you clearly include this complete statement with it:

Roslyn Franken is the author of The A List: 9 Guiding Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living, a powerful self-directed guide for achieving your long term health, lifestyle and weight management goals.

To purchase The A List book and for more information on Roslyn Franken’s personalized counseling and professional speaking services, please visit www.roslynfranken.com. Take your complimentary online Readiness Assessment and be sure to sign up for your FREE Healthy Hints newsletter.

Tell a Friend about this site

©Copyright Roslyn Franken Group, a division of 10-Q Enterprises Inc. 2006. All  rights reserved worldwide.